|
|
|
Catalyst Mills Make Dirty Dozen of BC |
|
|
|
Top British Columbia Air Polluters Revealed
Latest data show most reported pollution in British Columbia is dumped
into the air
OTTAWA, Oct. 12 /CNW/ - Companies in British Columbia emitted more than
286 million kilograms of air pollution in 2003, most of it associated with
respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, says a new British
Columbia pollution overview released today by Environmental Defence and the
Canadian Environmental Law Association.
The analysis, completed using the newly-updated web site
www.PollutionWatch.org, is based on data submitted by companies to Environment
Canada for its national reporting program - the National Pollutant Release
Inventory (NPRI). The 2003 data are the most recently available.
"This information demonstrates that both federal and provincial pollution
laws are failing Canadians," said Paul Muldoon, Executive Director, Canadian
Environmental Law Association. "These pollutants affect the health of all
Canadians. Emission reductions by Canadian industry are desperately needed."
The top 12 Dirty Dozen British Columbia Air Polluters, the majority of
which are in the pulp and paper sector, were responsible for much of the
combined air pollution in British Columbia reported to the National Pollutant
Release Inventory (NPRI) in 2003. Combined air pollution includes releases of
toxic pollutants, such as mercury and lead, and releases of Criteria Air
Contaminants, responsible for smog and acid rain.
<<
Dirty Dozen British Columbia Air Polluters
(as reported to the National Pollutant Release Inventory, 2003)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Releases
of Combined
Pollutants National
Rank
Facility
Company Name 2003 (kg)
Ranking
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
Kitimat Works Alcan
Inc.
52,841,252 17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
Pine River Gas Duke Energy
Gas 13,359,890 54
Plant
Transmission
Canada West
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
Prince George
Canfor
9,127,227 72
Pulp and Paper
Mills
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4
Fort Nelson Gas Duke Energy
Gas
8,152,320 79
Plant
Transmission
Canada West
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
Cariboo Pulp and Cariboo Pulp
and 6,679,658 93
Paper
Co.
Paper Co.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
6
Kamloops Pulp
Weyerhaeuser
5,766,039 108
Division
Company Limited
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
7
Prince George Husky
Oil
5,665,459 113
Refinery
Operations Ltd
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
8
Howe Sound Pulp Howe Sound
Pulp 5,624,431 114
and Paper Mill & Paper Limited
Partnership
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
9
Harmac Pulp Pope
& Talbot Ltd. 5,471,731 115
Operations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Crofton
Division
NorskeCanada
5,434,146 117
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Elk
Falls Division
NorskeCanada
4,938,978 125
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
12
Northwood Pulp Canadian
Forest 4,836,603
128
Mill
Products Ltd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PollutionWatch web site also ranks facilities and companies in
British Columbia and across Canada that are releasing and transferring
pollutants linked with cancer, respiratory illnesses, reproductive or
developmental harm and hormone disruption, as well as pollutants considered
toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
Using www.PollutionWatch.org, the groups also analyzed trends in releases
and transfers of pollutants in British Columbia between 1995 and 2003, the
years for which NPRI data is available. The analysis found:
- For core pollutants and core facilities that have been reported
consistently between 1995 and 2003, total releases and transfers
increased 105% (from 10,819,499 kilograms in 1995 to 22,168,754
kilograms in 2003). Air releases of core pollutants from core
facilities increased 88% (from 5,926,569 kilograms in 1995 to
11,132,888 kilograms in 2003).
- For core pollutants only, releases and transfers of pollutants in
British Columbia increased by 20% (from 26,178,320 kilograms in 1995
to 31,445,665 kilograms in 2003). Air releases increased 83% (from
7,060,345 kilograms in 1995 to 12,897,111 kilograms in 2003). Core
pollutants looks only at those pollutants that have been consistently
reported from 1995 to 2003; the analysis does not account for
increases in the number of facilities reporting to NPRI over time.
"Smog days are becoming the new normal in many parts of Canada," said Dr.
Rick Smith, Executive Director, Environmental Defence. "The lack of federal
leadership on pollution reduction harms the health of Canadians on a daily
basis."
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Canada's national pollution
law, is set to undergo its legally-required 5-year review this fall.
Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association are
calling on the federal government to take the lead in significantly reducing
pollution across Canada, beginning with:
- virtually eliminating releases of carcinogens to the air and water by
2008;
- ensuring that pollution prevention targets receive significant
consideration and discussion in the upcoming CEPA review;
- increasing the number of facilities preparing and implementing
pollution prevention plans; and
- ensuring resources are directed to enhance and expand the NPRI
program.
The PollutionWatch British Columbia fact sheet is available on the
PollutionWatch web site at www.PollutionWatch.org. Fact sheets are also
available for Canada, Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick.
About PollutionWatch (www.PollutionWatch.org) is a collaborative project
of Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association. The
web site tracks releases and transfers of pollutants across Canada based on
data collected by Environment Canada through the National Pollutant Release
Inventory (NPRI). NPRI does not include data from all pollutants or sources.
Visitors to the PollutionWatch web site can identify facilities in their home
towns by searching by postal code, access "quick lists" of the facilities
reporting the largest releases and transfers of pollutants in the country, get
trends from 1995-2003, or create their own ranked lists of facilities by
province, industrial sector, or corporation.
>>
For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, (416) 323-9521 ext. 232,
(647) 280-9521 (cell); Paul Muldoon or Fe de Leon, Canadian Environmental Law
Association, (416) 371-3219 (cell)
|
|
|
In the News